John Sarcone (R, C) is running for election to the office of Westchester County District Attorney.
John Sarcone is rated Anti-Choice by Choice Matters. He refused to be interviewed. NYS Supreme Court candidate John Sarcone, who was rated anti-choice by the Organization in 2000 and 1998 when he ran for NYS Assembly, categorically refused to participate in an interview in 2022 and threatened WCLA – Choice Matters with a lawsuit if it shared its opinion, rating him anti-choice. Choice Matters does NOT succumb to threats. Further, Choice Matters refuses to allow candidates to mislead voters or create their own personal definitions of what being “pro-choice” means.
Explanation/Opinion/Policy
WCLA – Choice Matters requires ALL candidates to submit a completed questionnaire in each election cycle in which a candidate is running. As explained in the Endorsement Policy at wclapac.org and prochoicevoter.org, WCLA PAC and ProChoice Voter use WCLA – Choice Matters’ ratings of the questionnaires and/or interviews to make endorsement decisions. Other than candidates running for U.S. president or vice president, WCLA – Choice Matters has maintained this policy without exception for over 30 years. All candidates are informed that if they do not submit a completed questionnaire and/or participate in an interview if requested, he/she/they will be rated “anti-choice”. This requirement is essential for two very important reasons: 1.) It exposes anti-choice candidates who opt not to return the questionnaire or participate in an interview rather than tell voters where they stand; and 2.) Candidates’ positions change, as exemplified in the cases of Jeanine Pirro (2001) and Virginia Perez (2018.) Only because WCLA – Choice Matters required a completed questionnaire in each election cycle was the Organization able to expose the changes in these two candidates’ positions. NYS Supreme Court candidate John Sarcone, who was rated anti-choice by the Organization in 2000 and 1998 when he ran for NYS Assembly, categorically refused to participate in an interview in 2022 and threatened WCLA – Choice Matters with a lawsuit if it shared its opinion, rating him anti-choice in 2022. WCLA – Choice Matters declines to alter its rating process because that would constitute special treatment. WCLA – Choice Matters is non-partisan and is not allied with any political party. The Organization’s sole mission is to fight for comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all women and to eliminate all inequities in accessing that care. The Organization holds all candidates to the same standards, and does not give any individual special treatment. Endorsements are made but not necessarily accepted. WCLA – Choice Matters has never and will never let its judgement and political opinions be compromised on any basis.
ENDORSEMENT POLICY
WCLA PAC and ProChoice Voter make their endorsements based on the candidate ratings made by the Board of Directors of WCLA – Choice Matters. WCLA PAC’s and ProChoice Voter’s endorsements are determined case by case. To be considered for endorsement, candidates must complete and return the Organization’s questionnaire and participate in an interview if requested.
Candidates who fail to return the questionnaire are rated anti-choice and have been fully informed of that consequence before making their decision. All endorsements are made on a strictly non-partisan basis. The questionnaires, incumbents’ and opponents’ records, leadership, and helpfulness during the legislative session are all reviewed. Consistency between candidates’ actions, interviews and questionnaire responses is important. Each race is voted separately. Incumbents may be endorsed over pro-choice challengers if they have consistent voting records and have established a reputation for strong leadership and extra effort in advancing access to abortion and contraception. Non-incumbents may be endorsed if they have demonstrated leadership on the issue.
Endorsement is considered only for those who unequivocally support:
- Access to abortion and contraception for all women, unimpeded by laws, restrictions, or regulations.
- Strict confidentiality for all reproductive healthcare;
- Coverage by public and private insurance of abortion and contraception.
Judicial candidates: To be eligible for endorsement, judicial candidates must participate in an interview if requested. Candidates who do not participate in an interview if requested are rated anti-choice and have been fully informed of that consequence before making their decision. Endorsements are made but not necessarily accepted.
WCLA – Choice Matters is non-partisan and is not allied with any political party. The Organization’s sole mission is to fight for comprehensive reproductive health care for all women and to eliminate all inequities in accessing that care. The Organization holds all candidates to the same standards, and does not give any individual special treatment. WCLA – Choice Matters has never and will never let its judgement and political opinions be compromised on any basis.